Abstract
In the period 2001–2014 we studied Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus brood parasitism on Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis in two mountain areas; one located in the eastern and one in the western part of southern Norway. In the total material of 211 Meadow Pipit nests, 14 (6.6%) were parasitized by the cuckoo. The parasitism rate showed considerable variation both in time and space, with highest rate in one of the areas in 2005 (35.3%). Cuckoo eggs were quite similar in appearance to host eggs. In spite of this, 30% of the cuckoo eggs were rejected by desertion. No host ejection of parasite eggs was observed. Nest predation rates were rather low. Due to climate change, it has been hypothesized that the cuckoo, a long-distance migrant, may arrive too late to successfully utilize the Meadow Pipit because the latter is better able to advance the breeding season due to a shorter migration distance. Our data lend support to the mismatch hypothesis, but the low sample size regarding cases of parasitism does not allow us to make any firm conclusions. Long-term monitoring of host-parasite interactions in specific populations is important to further disclose the mechanisms responsible for the decline in the Norwegian cuckoo population.
Highlights
The Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis is by far the most common host for the Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus in Norway (Moksnes & Røskaft 1987, Moksnes et al 2011)
Host rejection rates, egg characteristics, predation rates and egg-laying dates, which are all variables that may influence the state of the cuckoo population
Cuckoo parasitism was found in 6.6% of the nests (n = 211), 8.5% in Area I and 3.5% in Area II
Summary
The Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis is by far the most common host for the Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus (hereafter cuckoo) in Norway (Moksnes & Røskaft 1987, Moksnes et al 2011). A marked decrease in the Norwegian cuckoo population has been reported, with an annual reduction of approximately 4.2% in the period 1996–2013 (Kålås et al 2014, Moksnes 2014). Based on these estimates, the cuckoo was placed on the Norwegian Red List of Species as «Near Threatened» in 2015 Similar negative trends have been recorded in several other European countries (Birdlife International 2004, Eaton et al 2009, Erritzøe et al 2012) The mechanisms behind this decrease may operate both at the breeding grounds, during migration and/ or in the African winter quarters.
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